New research from Europe suggests that's so after comparing the genetic makeup of more than 35,000 twin pairs with dog ownership. The researchers concluded that genetic variations explained more than half of the likelihood of having a dog.
The study shows a person's genetic makeup appears to be a significant influence in whether they own a dog. These findings have major implications in several different fields related to understanding dog-human interaction throughout history and in modern times.
The study results may explain why some folks are "dog people," compared to those who have no pets. Perhaps some people have a higher innate propensity to care for a pet than others.
Dogs were the first domesticated animal and have had close ties with humans for at least 15,000 years. Dogs are believed to benefit the well-being and health of their owners. Findings suggest that supposed health benefits of owning a dog reported in some studies may be partly explained by different genetics of the people studied.
The study "cannot tell us exactly which genes are involved, but at least demonstrate for the first time that genetics and environment play about equal roles in determining dog ownership. The findings could add to understanding, the deep and enigmatic history of dog domestication.
"Decades of archaeological research have helped us construct a better picture of where and when dogs entered into the human world, but modern and ancient genetic data are now allowing us to directly explore why and how.